HOLYOKE -- City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain has filed an order for Tuesday's (May 20) meeting seeking information about the exit agreement for former solicitor Heather Egan that included the city paying her $45,000.

"I filed the order because I want to know what's going on with this. I think the other question is, why? I can't recall any employee we've given a buyout to. What possible claim could she have that the mayor was worried about?" Jourdain said.

The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Egan resigned as head of the Law Department April 29 slightly more than a year into the job. Mayor Alex B. Morse said her departure was for "personal reasons."

Responding to Jourdain, Morse reiterated remarks he made last week, that the "separation agreement" between the city and Egan was a standard step in public and private employment. Lawyers hired by the city advised that to protect Egan's privacy rights, he was unable to say why she was given a payment, he said.

"As I previously said, separation agreements are common in both the private and public sector, and is a function of the executive branch, not the legislative. Due to the personal nature of the situation and out of respect for Ms. Egan's privacy, I cannot comment further. I refer him and others to the city's counsel, Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn," Morse said.

Heather G. Egan, former Holyoke city solicitor.(SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Jourdain's order asks that Meghan Sullivan of Sullivan Hayes & Quinn law firm in Springfield address the council Finance Committee on "the process and legal underpinnings of the Heather Egan exit agreement. That this occur as soon as humanly possible."

Egan was appointed by Morse and approved unanimously by the City Council in March 2013 to lead the Law Department, replacing former solicitor Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross. The city solicitor's salary is $70,000 a year.

Egan couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday. Her phone answering message still identifies her as city solicitor.

Morse also is required in the separation agreement to provide a letter of reference for Egan for future employment.

Jourdain said another objectionable part of the agreement is it requires that the city not contest Egan's pursuit of unemployment benefits. That will cost the city more money because the city is self-insured in terms of paying out such benefits, he said.